Development of mechanomutable asphalt binders for the construction of smart pavements

Mechanical performance of mechanomutable asphalt binders under cyclic creep and recovery loads

“…As observed in previous studies [11], at the temperature of testing used (60°C), the magnetic particles contained in the MABs can create an internal structure when they are activated by a magnetic field (that induces a more elastic response of the MAB). Therefore, during the tests developed here, two different situations appeared (Fig.…”

“…Based on the results obtained from previous research [11], two different neat binders, named B 20/30 and B 50/70, and two different magnetic particle concentrations with 1% w/w and 10% w/w (% concentration over the weight of the binder) were selected to manufacture representative MABs. In order to compare the performance of these smart binders, a high-performance commercial binder (commonly used in the construction of long-life pavements) composed of Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene polymer modified bitumen (PMB) was also tested.…”

“…In order to reproduce characteristics similar to those assumed to impact on the performance of a real pavement, during the one-second creep load, a magnetic field of 430 mT was generated by a coil through which a controlled current was passed, located under the lower plate of the rheometer [11]. After the onesecond creep load, the magnetic field was switched off and the binder allowed to recover for 9 s without the presence of the field (Fig.…”

“…These binders are composed of a bituminous matrix that has been modified with magnetic particles that are homogeneously dispersed over it. When these particles are activated by an external magnetic field, the binder can considerably increase its stiffness, and when the magnetic field is removed, its initial rheological properties are restored [11]. The results obtained in previous research have shown that the type of bituminous matrix (harder or softer) used in the manufacturing of the binders has an impact on the degree to which they can modify their mechanical properties.…”

“…In this respect, a new pavement material (mechanomutable asphalt binders, MAB) has been recently developed [11] and it could provide an interesting tool for improving the mechanical performance of the main civil engineering infrastructures (roads, highways, airports, ports, etc.). These binders (MAB) are able to adapt their mechanical response to the stresses that they are required to support, and they could provide pavements that are sufficiently rigid to reduce the appearance of plastic deformations, whilst flexible enough to avoid the formation of cracks.…”